The Palestine Forum of New Zealand
unequivocally condemns the latest Israeli assault on the
Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, where
thousands of illegal Israeli settlers, escorted by heavily
armed occupation forces and led by the extremist Israeli
Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, stormed one of Islam’s holiest
sites in a deliberate act of provocation and religious
aggression.
These actions are neither isolated
incidents nor spontaneous events. They form part of a
long-standing Israeli policy aimed at asserting control over
occupied East Jerusalem, erasing Palestinian identity, and
fundamentally altering the historic and legal status quo of
Al-Aqsa Mosque. The repeated military raids, restrictions on
Palestinian worshippers, and intimidation of Islamic
religious authorities constitute grave violations of
international law, international humanitarian law, and the
fundamental right to freedom of religion.
The
Palestine Forum of New Zealand is deeply alarmed by the
continued silence and inaction of much of the international
community. Every failure to hold Israel accountable
emboldens further violations, fuels instability, and
undermines the very international legal order that
democratic nations claim to uphold.
New Zealand Must
Not Remain Silent
New Zealand has long presented
itself as a principled defender of international law and
human rights. That commitment must extend to
Palestine.
The New Zealand Government cannot continue
to issue generic statements of concern while Israel
systematically violates international law with complete
impunity. Silence in the face of injustice is not
neutrality, it is acquiescence.
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We therefore call on
the New Zealand Government to:
Publicly and
unequivocally condemn the Israeli government’s escalating
violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Reaffirm that East
Jerusalem is occupied Palestinian territory and reject any
attempt to alter its legal or historical
status.
Demand an immediate end to Israeli military
incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the ongoing
restrictions imposed on Palestinian
worshippers.
Support meaningful international
accountability measures, including investigations into
violations of international law and international
humanitarian law.
Work with like-minded nations to
ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians, religious
sites, and cultural heritage under occupation.
An
Assault on International Law
The targeting of Al-Aqsa
Mosque is not merely an attack on a place of worship. It is
an attack on the religious freedoms of millions of
Palestinians, on the cultural heritage of humanity, and on
the international legal framework governing occupied
territory.
The repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa
Mosque, the denial of access to Palestinian worshippers, and
attempts to impose a new reality by force directly challenge
decades of international consensus and numerous United
Nations resolutions.
If the international community
continues to tolerate these violations without consequence,
it sends a dangerous message that international law is
optional and that powerful states may act with
impunity.
A Call for Principle, Justice and
Accountability
The Palestine Forum of New Zealand
stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people in
Jerusalem and throughout occupied Palestine.
We call
upon political leaders, faith communities, civil society
organisations, and all people of conscience across New
Zealand to speak out against these grave violations and to
demand accountability.
The protection of Al-Aqsa
Mosque is not solely a Palestinian or Muslim issue. It is a
universal issue of justice, human dignity, religious
freedom, and respect for international law.
New
Zealand has a proud history of standing on the right side of
history. The time has come to do so
again.
